meeld

Meeld is a term used in speculative biology and world-building to describe a fictional genus of small, aquatic invertebrates. The concept appears across various works of fiction and game lore as a way to explore luminescent life in freshwater ecosystems. It has no basis in real-world taxonomy, and details of meeld biology vary by author and creator.

Physical description commonly attributed to meelds portrays them as diminutive, soft-bodied organisms measuring only a few millimeters in length. They possess a segmented form with multiple feathery appendages used for feeding and gentle propulsion. A hallmark of the meeld concept is their bioluminescent tissue, which typically emits a pale blue-green glow along the dorsal surface or within specialized organs. The glow can be patterned or diffuse, and in some depictions serves as a signaling mechanism among individuals.

Habitat and distribution in fictional works place meelds in slow-moving or still freshwater environments such as ponds, marshes, and river margins. They are often described forming dense colonies on submerged vegetation, decaying wood, or within the interstices of aquatic debris. Their bioluminescence may create visible “meeld beds” at night, contributing to the atmosphere and ecology of the setting.

Behavior and ecology figures for meelds commonly identify them as filter feeders that consume microalgae and detritus. Reproduction is usually sexual, with free-swimming larvae that disperse via water currents. Predators in these narratives range from small fish to aquatic insects, while larger organisms may rely on meelds as a food source or as a component of a broader food web. They are sometimes depicted as a renewable light source or a cultural motif in storytelling.

See also fictional biology, bioluminescence in nature, freshwater ecology in speculative fiction.